Apparatus for dyeing.



No. 755,422. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904. J. A. WILLARD.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

JAMES A. WILLARD, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO VACUUM DYEINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF CHATTANOOGA, TEL NESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,422, dated March22, 1904..

Application filed November 4, 1903. Serial No. 179,848. (No model.)

To aZZ 1072,0112. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. VvILLARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State ofTennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forDyeing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inapparatus for dyeing raw stock, wool, and similar material.

The object of the invention is to dye, wash,

- and fix the dyestuffs upon the material being operated on while it issubmerged at all times without coming in contact with the air and untilthe color has been set and made fast or permanent.

The invention further aims to constructan apparatus of theabove-referred-to character which is so constructed and arranged thatafter the material has been operated upon it can be readily removed fromthe apparatus and transported to any point desired.

The invention further aims to construct an apparatus for dyeing rawstock, wool, and similar material which is so constructed that after thematerial has been compressed to be operated upon it will be securelyheld in its compressed condition.

The invention further aims to provide an apparatus adapted for'use indyeing raw cotton, raw wool, and similar materials which shall beextremely simple in its construction, strong, durable, efficientin itsoperation, readily and easily set up, and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture; and to this end the invention consists of the novelcombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specificallydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularlypointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and whichillustrates a sectional side elevation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, 1 denotes an open vator receptacle mounted upon a suitable support and reinforced exteriorlyat its lower end by an an nular angle-shaped member 2, which is securedto the said vat or receptacle 1 by the bolts 2. The preferred contour ofthe vat or receptacle 1 is cylindrical, although any other shape desiredmay be employed. In the vat or receptacle 1, a suitable distance fromthe lower end thereof, is arranged a bottom 3, carrying on its upperface an annular angle-shaped member 4:, which is adapted to abut againstthe inner face or side of the vat or receptacle 1. The bottom 3 andangle-shaped member 4 are secured within the vat or receptacle 1 by anysuitable means.

The reference character 5 denotes a deflector, which is secured to theupper face of the bottom 3 and is arranged over a combined inlet andexhaust opening 6 for the dye liquor, the opening 6 being formed in thebottom 3 at one side of the center. Arranged within the vat orreceptacle 1 is a removable perforated supporting-plate 7, provided withthe upwardly-extending yokes 8 and a depending angle-shaped separatingand supporting member 9. The yokes 8 are adapted to be engaged bysuitable elevating means for lifting the supporting-plate out of the vator receptacle 1. The member 9 when the plate 7 is in its position withinthe vat or receptacle 1 is adapted to rest upon the bottom 3, and bysuch an arrangement the plate 7 is supported and separated a suitabledistance from the bottom 3, forming thereby when the plate 7 is inposition what may be termed a receiving and distributing chamber 10 forthe dye liquor before the latter is forced through the material to bedyed.

Within the vat or receptacle 1 is arranged a combined removableperforated cover and compression-plate 11, which is secured to andsupported by a spider l2, and the edge of the plate 11 is surrounded byan angle-shaped guide and retaining member 13, which is secured inposition by any suitable means. The function of the member 13 will behereinafter referred to. The plate 11 has suitably secured thereto aplurality of upwardly-extending yokes 14, which are adapted to beengaged by a suitable lifting means for elevating the plate 11 from thevat or receptacle 1.

The reference character 15 denotes a vertically-extending rod having itsupper portion screw-threaded, as at 16, and its lower portion securedcentrally to the bottom 3, as at 17. The rod 15 extends centrallythrough the spider 12 and carries on its screw-threaded end anadjusting-wheel 18, the function of whichis, as the wheel screws downthe rod 15' 13-while the vertically-extending portion of the member 13is adapted to retain and guide the arms 19 to and in securing position.The arms 19 are curvilinear in contour and are adapted to extend overthe top edgeof the vat or receptacle 1 and depend downwardly within thesame. The upper end of each of the arms 19 is formed integral with asleeve 20, loosely mounted upon an upwardly-extending screwthreaded rod21,and the arms 19 are retained in their securing position through themedium of the nut 22, carried by the rod 21. It will be evident thatwhen the nut 22 is lowered and engages with the sleeve 20 the latterwill be prevented from any vertical movement, but that when the nut 22is elevated, owing to the factthat the sleeves 20 are loosely mounted onthe rod 21, the sleeves can be vertically moved, so that the arms 19 canbe swung out from the vat or receptacle 1, so that the plates 7 and 11can be removed therefrom. The lower end of the rod 21 is connected to orterminates in a stay-plate 23, which is secured to the outer face of areinforcing-plate 24 by means of the bolts 25, these latter extendingthrough staypiece 23, plate 24, and side of the vat or receptacle. Theplate 24 is also secured to the vat or receptacle 1 by means of thebolts 26.

The vat or receptacle 1 besides being provided with the combined inletand exhaust opening 6 in the bottom 3 thereof is also provided in itsside, near its top, with a combined inlet and exhaust opening 27.Communicating with the opening 6 is a primary combined supply andsuction pipe formed of the pipe-sections 28, 29, 30, and 31.The'sections 28 and 29 are connected together by the elbowshapedcoupling 32, the sections 29 and 30 by the T-shaped coupling 33, and thesections 30 and 31 by the T-shaped coupling 34. The T- shaped coupling33 is provided with a threeway valve 35. Communicating with the opening27 is a secondary combined supply and exhaust pipe for the dye liquor,and it comprises the pipe-sections 36, 37, 38, and 31. The sections 36and 37 are connected together by the T-shaped coupling 39, the sections37 and 38 by the elbow-shaped coupling 40, and v the sections 38 and 31by the T-shaped coupling 41. r The T-shaped coupling 39 is provided withathree-way valve 42 and the T- shaped coupling 41 with a three-way valve43. Communicating with the primary and secondary combined supply andexhaust pipes for the dye liquor is an auxiliary feed-pipe consisting ofthe pipe-sections 44, 45, 46, and 47 The sections 44 and 45 areconnected together bythe elbow-shaped coupling48. The section 44 isconnected to the T-shaped coupling 33. The sections 45 and 46 areconnected together by the T-shaped coupling 49. The section 47 isconnected at one end to the T-shaped coupling 39 and at its other end tothe T-shaped coupling 49, the latter being provided with a three-wayvalve 50. The section 46 communicates with apump 51,driven byaprimemover, and the pump 51 also communicates with, by

the pipe-section 53, the T-shaped coupling 34.

The reference character 54 denotes a dye liquor reservoir, whichcommunicates with the pump through the medium of a dye-liquor feed-pipeformed of the pipe-sections 55 56, which are connected together by theelbowshaped couplings 57. The section 55 communicates withthe reservoir54 and the section 56 communicates with the T-shaped coupling 43.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: i

The plate 11 is removed, and the 'material say about five hundredpoundsis taken from the bale without any previous opening or handlingand placed upon the plate 7. The plate 11 is then replaced and the wholemass compressed by means of the operation of the wheel 18. v The liftingarms 19 are then brought to their retaining position in engagement withthe member 13. The vat or receptacle 1 is then supplied with dyeliquorin such quantity that it will completely submerge the material, aswell as the plate 11, the quantity of dye liquor being such that when itis drawn -on and forced through the material to dye it there will alwaysbe asufficient quantity of the dye liquor in the vat or receptacle 1 toprevent the material being treated from coming into contact with theair. After the dye liquor has been supplied to the vat or receptacle thepump 51 is operated, and it pulls or draws the dye liquor from the upperpart of the vat or receptacle 1 through the pipe-sections 36, 47, and 46into the pump, as the valves 39 and 50 have been set for this purpose.The pump then forces the dye liquor through the sections 53, 30, 29, and28 into the chamber 10, or rather into the deflector 5, which causes thematerial to be distributed throughout the chamberlO, and then throughthe action of the pump the dye liquor is forced up through theperforations in the plate 7 through the material which is to be dyedinto the space formed at the top of the vat or receptacle 1, and thisoperation continues until it is desired to change the circulation of thedye liquor than that as stated. During the foregoing operation the valve35 is set to obtain the circulation, as set forth. When it is desired toreverse the circulation of the dye liquor, valves 35, 50, 39, and 43 areset so that the action of the pump will cause the dye liquor to passdownwardly through the vat or receptacle 1 through the sections 28, 29,4A, 45, and 46 into the pump, and thence from the pump through thesections 53, 31, 38, 37 and 36 into the vat or receptacle 1 and thencethrough the material. This operation is continued as long as it isnecessary.

From the first operation set forth it is evident that the dye liquor hastraveled from the bottom to the top and by the second operation setforth from the top to the bottom.

If it be necessary to force the dye liquor in one direction tocompletely dye the material, this is continued the necessary time. Thematerial is then washed. If it be necessary to circulate the dye liquorin alternate directions to completely dye the material, this operationis continued the necessary time, and the material is then washed; but ineither case it is necessary that the material be washed. he circulationof the washing medium is done in the same manner as the dye liquor.After the dyeing and washing are completed the plate 11 is removed bythe engagement of a suitable moistening device with the yokes l4, andthen plate 7 is lifted out of the vat or' receptacle with the materialthereon and transported to any suitable point desired.

It is thought the many advantages of my new and improved apparatus fordyeing raw stock, wool, and similar material can be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, and it will furthermore be evident that changes,variations, and modifications can be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and Itherefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of constructionhereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawing,

but reserve the right to make such changes,

variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of theprotection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a dyeing apparatus, anopen vat having an imperforate bottom and adapted to contain a body ofdye liquor, a removable perforated plate arranged above the bottomthereof, said plate of a diameter substantially equal to that of theinner diameter of said vat at the bottom thereof, a compression-plateoperating within said vat at the bottom thereof and of a diametersubstantially equal to the inner diameter of said vat at the lower endthereof, means for retaining the compressionplate in its adjustedposition, a pump, means communicating with said pump for suitablycirculating dye liquor through the said vat, and means carried by thesaid plates and adapted to be engaged by a suitable hoisting device forremoving said plates from said vat.

2. A dyeing apparatus comprising an open vat having an imperforatebottom and adapted to contain a body of dye liquor, a removableperforated plate supported upon the bottom of said vat and of a diametersubstantially equal to the inner diameter of said vat at the bottomthereof, said plate provided with a plurality of yokes, a removable andan adjustable compression-plate supported within said vat and providedwith a plurality of yokes, said removable and adjustablecompressionplate of a diameter substantially equal to that of the innerdiameter of said vat at the bottom thereof, said yokes of each of thesaid plates adapted to be engaged by an elevating device for removingsaid plates from said vat, adjustable means carried by said vat andadapted to engage said compression-plate for retaining it in itsadjusted position, and means communicating with said vat for circulatinga dye liquor therethrough.

3. A dyeing apparatus comprising a vat provided with an imperforatebottom suitablyremoved from its lower end and adapted to containa bodyof dye liquor, a removable perforated plate arranged in said vat andprovided with a supporting member adapted to rest upon said bottom, saidplate further provided with means adapted to be engaged by a hoistingdevice to permit of the removal of the plate from the vat and said plateof a diameter substantially equal to that of the inner diameter of saidvat at the bottom thereof, a removable and adjustable compression-platearranged in and supported by said vat and carrying a guiding andretaining member and further provided with means adapted to be engagedby a hoisting device to permit of removing said adjustable plate fromsaid vat, said adjustable plate of a diameter substantially equal tothat of the inner diameter of said vat, means arranged in the said vatat the bottom thereof for adjusting the said compression-plate, meanscarried by the vat and adapted to engage said guide and member forretaining the compression-plate in its adjusted position, and means forcirculating a dye liquor through the vat.

i. An apparatus of the character described comprising an open vat havingan imperforate bottom and adapted to contain a body of dye liquor, aremovable perforated plate arranged the-rein, supported upon the bottom'of said vat, provided with means for attaching it to ahoisting deviceand of a diameter substantially equal to that of the inner diameter ofthe vat at the bottom thereof, a removable and adjustable perforatedcompression-plate arranged in said vat and provided with means forattachingit to a hoisting device and of a diameter substantially equalto that of the inner diameter of said vat at the bottom thereof,adjustable means carried by said vat and adapted to engage saidcompression-plate for retaining it in its adjusted position, a deflectorinterposed between the bottom of said vat and said removable perforatedplate, and means communicating with said vat for circulating a dyeliquor therethrough.

5. A dyeing apparatus comprising an open vat having an imperforatebottom and adapted to contain a body of dye liquor, a removableperforated plate supported by the bottom of said vat and provided withmeans adapted to be connected to a hoisting device so as to permit ofthe removal of said plate, said plate of a diameter substantially equalto that of the inner diameter of said Vat at the bottom thereof, aremovable and adjustable compression-plate arranged in said vat andprovided with means for attaching it to a hoisting device to permit ofits removal from said vat, said compression-plate of a diametersubstantially equal to that of the inner diameter to said vat at thebottom thereof, means carried by said vat and adapted to engage saidcompression-plate for retaining it in its adjusted position,a primarydye-liquor supply and exhaust pipe communicating with said vat, asecondary dye-liquor supply and exhaust pipe communicating with saidvat, means for establishing communication between the said pipes, adye-liquor feed-pipe communicating with said pipes, a pump communicatingwith said dye-liquor feed-pipe and said. other pipes, and operatingmeans for said pump.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising an open vat havingan imperforate bottom and adapted to contain a body of dye liquor, aremovable perforated plate arranged in said vat and provided with asupporting member adapted to rest upon the bottom of said vat forretaining said platea suitable distance above said bottom, said plate ofa diameter substantially equal to that of the inner diameter of said vatat the bottom thereof, an adjustable compression-plate operating in saidvat and provided with a guide and retaining member and of a diametersubstantially equal to that of the inner diameter of said vat at thebottom thereof, means carried by the said plates to permit of attachingthem to a hoisting device so as to remove said plates from said vat,means for adjusting said compression plate, means carried by the saidvat and adapted to engage the said guide and retaining member forsecuring said compression-plate in its adjusted position, and meanscommunicating with said vat for circulating a dye liquor therethrough.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a vat having animperforate bottom and adapted to contain abody of dye liquor, aremovable perforated plate arranged in said vat and provided with asupporting member adapted to rest upon the bottom of said vat, anadjustable compression-plate operating in said vat and provided with aguide and retaining member, means carried by the said plates to permitof attaching them to a hoisting device, means for adjusting saidcompressionplate, means carried by the vat and adapted to engage thesaid guide and retaining member for securing said compression-plate inits adjusted position, and means communicating with said vat forcirculating a liquid therethrough.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising an open vat havingan imperforate bottom and adapted to contain a body of dye liquor, aperforated plate arranged therein and having a supporting member adaptedto rest upon the bottom of the vat for suitably spacing the said platefrom said bottom forming thereby a receiving-chamber, said plate of adiameter substantially equal to that of the inner diameter of said vatat the bottom thereof, a deflector arranged in said receivingchamber, acompression-plate operating in said vat and provided with a guide andretaining member and of a diameter approximately equal to that of theinner diameter of said vat at the botom thereof, means for adjusting thesaid compression-plate, means carried by the vat and adapted to engagesaid guide and retaining means for securing the said compression-platein its adjusted position, means communicating with said vat forcirculating a liquid therethrough, and means carried by the said plateand adapted to be connected to a hoisting device so that the said platescan be removed from said vat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses JAMES A. WILLARD.

Witnesses:

P. O. TATUM, CHAS. S. HALL.

